Note to Student: Please answer the following questions to be
graded. These questions are designed to make you
think. If you get stumped, just leave it blank and we will
fill it in for you.

What are the two
possibilities as to how matter might have gotten to be as it is today
once it was already in existence?

a.

b.

The Monarch butterfly migrates from the maritime provinces of
Canada to Mexico over several generations. Give three possible explanations
as to how such a migratory journey might have come to be a part of this
insect’s life cycle?

a.

b.

c.

What is meant by the phrase “god of the gaps?”

Suppose that in order for a particular event to occur, five
separate things would have to happen. Suppose that we know what the
probabilities of each of those five things happening by chance are. How
would you calculate the total probabilities?

Identify a situation in nature, like the Monarch butterfly,
where a string of different events or variables would all have to be
right in order for the result of the whole situation to turn out in a
favorable way. These can be living examples, or physical ones.

a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

What happens to the probability of an event when more and more
variables become necessary for the final result to turn out in a
positive way? In other words, what happens to the total probability
when a whole string of things has to be right for the event to occur?

Think about the other planets in the solar system and identify
some variables not used in the lesson that would have to be right in
order for any kind of life to exist. List three variables below.

Why is it not valid to postulate the existence of stone people
or fire people somewhere in space, totally different than we are that
nonetheless would be living?

Does the discussion of this lesson attempt to prove or does it
prove that there is no life in outer space? Explain your answer.

Why is it not valid to argue that if there is any chance at all
for life in space that it will occur?

Please add any questions on this course of study that have not been
answered so we can take care of any remaining ideas that are not clear
in your mind.

The easiest way to complete these questions is to copy and paste
the questions
to a word processing program (Word, WordPerfect, Notepad, etc.).
Once
you
finish answering the questions, e-mail the questions/answers to John N. Clayton as a text e-mail,
NOT as an attachment or HTML format. We will not
accept any
e-mail containing attachments. Leave spaces between
each question and answer. The answers will be graded and
commented on
and
returned to you.